Jun SCOBY Fermenting Guide
Jun Tea is a unique type of fermented tea often called the “champagne of kombucha.” It’s made with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) that thrives on green tea and raw honey instead of black tea and sugar. The result is a lighter, more floral brew that ferments faster than kombucha and has a naturally delicate sweetness. If you’d like to make Jun Tea at home, here’s a simple guide.
Step 1: Gather your supplies
To make Jun Tea, you’ll need:
-
A Jun SCOBY
-
Starter tea from a previous Jun batch
-
Green tea: loose-leaf or tea bags
-
Raw honey (avoid pasteurized or heat-treated honey)
-
Filtered or boiled water (to remove chlorine/contaminants)
-
A large glass jar (your fermentation vessel)
-
A breathable cover (cloth or coffee filter + rubber band)
-
Optional: flavourings like herbs, ginger, or fruit
Step 2: Brew the tea
-
Boil 2–3 litres of water. Remove from heat and add 6–8 green tea bags or 3 tablespoons of loose-leaf green tea.
-
Steep for about 5–7 minutes, then remove tea bags or strain leaves.
-
Stir in ½ to ¾ cup raw honey until dissolved.
-
Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Add the SCOBY
-
Once cooled, pour the tea into your glass jar.
-
Add your Jun SCOBY and about 1 cup of starter tea from a previous batch.
-
The SCOBY may float or sink — both are fine.
-
Cover the jar with your breathable cloth and secure with a rubber band.
Step 4: Ferment the tea
-
Place the jar in a warm, dark spot with good airflow.
-
Ideal temperature: 20–26°C.
-
Jun ferments quickly: 3–7 days is usually enough.
-
Taste every day or two until it reaches the balance of sweetness and tang you prefer.
Step 5: Bottle and flavour
-
Remove the SCOBY and set it aside in some finished Jun to use as your starter for the next batch.
-
Pour the Jun into glass bottles, leaving 2–3 cm of headspace.
-
Add optional flavourings (ginger, berries, mint, lemon, etc.).
-
Seal bottles with a tight lid and let sit at room temperature for 1–3 days to carbonate.
-
Move to the fridge once bubbly to slow fermentation.
That’s it! With just tea, honey, and a SCOBY, you can brew your own light, refreshing Jun Tea at home. Remember: clean utensils and good food safety practices are key to healthy, delicious ferments.